[JohnGalt]

Since 1921, capital gains were considered income and yet it is taxed at a higher rate for the less wealthy and at a lower rate for the upper bracket.

Example: Worker at bottom bracket pays 12% on his income and 20% on his capital gains. Worker B pays a top rate 38% but 30% on his capital gains tax.

Do you think it was leftists who orchestrated this maneuver?

Leftists (i.e. class warfare types) recognize this. Conservatives cannot have it both ways, which they do. Capital gains are either income or they are not, hence there is no coherent Conservative movement to eliminate it, just tinker with it.

[Phantom Lord]

There is no "conservative" movement to eliminate the capital gains taxes because the political reality is they could never get it through congress.

[Mark Bahner]

Conservatives cannot have it both ways, which they do. Capital gains are either income or they are not, hence there is no coherent Conservative movement to eliminate it, just tinker with it.

Perhaps more important, there is absolutely no movement among conservatives to lower federal spending by so much (more than 40%) that all taxes on personal income (including the capital gains tax) could be eliminated completely.

In fact, conservative G.W. Bush is actively involved in EXPANDING the federal government (proposed a 9% increase in federal spending in FY 2003).